Chicago Bears: 4 Players who deserve more playing time in 2022

Thomas Graham is another player who needs more playing time in 2022

I was on Thomas Graham before the 2021 NFL Draft and was excited when the Chicago Bears landed him late in the draft. He was a guy I found to be worthy of a higher pick. He was selected 228th overall (6th round) and I think he was worthy of a fourth-round pick.

Had Thomas Graham not opted out in 2020, I wonder if he would have found himself being ranked higher heading into the draft. The fact that it took Matt Nagy and the staff until injuries plagued the defensive backfield to play Graham makes zero sense to me. It is just another knock on the Nagy-led Chicago Bears.

When Graham finally saw the field, he was all over the place and brought a fire and passion that we all want to see from a player. I think Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus are really going to like Graham based on what we have heard from what they want to see in a player — a guy who wants to continue to be great even after the big contract(s). Graham saw time in four games and started one of them. He finished with 13 combined (6 solos) tackles and one tackle for loss.

He also had four pass deflections which is pretty significant for the little playing time he saw. Graham’s advanced stats are pretty solid too. He allowed six of 12 targets to be completed. Unfortunately, he also gave up a touchdown on one of those plays. Some want to see Graham play in the nickel spot, but honestly, I see him more as an outside corner.